A RAMBLERS' group faced with an up hill struggle plans to step up its game to ensure a walk planned for Sunday will go ahead.

Eric Hatton, 73, from Darwen, is leading a ramble on December 3 and claims there is a problem with a footpath on the route, which poses a danger to his group of elderly walkers.

The ramble, run by the First Sunday Rambling Club, plans to go to Haggs Wood and Mr Hatton said there was no alternative access other than the damaged footpath - and he plans to rectify the problem himself. Mr Hatton is prepared to cut steps into the clay earth with a spade to keep walkers safe.

Mr Hatton, chairman of Blackburn and Darwen Group Ramblers' Association, said: "The footpath which was level and on the same contour has been diverted downhill by 20 metres before the path ends. The ground on the slope is clay, it is very steep and very slippery. I contacted Blackburn with Darwen Council in September but nothing has happened so I will cut steps into the ground to make it safer to climb that 20-metre stretch."

He added: "I emphasised my concern for the safety of walkers at a Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood meeting, as every ramble leader has a duty of care to those he leads, and in this case most are elderly."

The public footpath near Swarrock Farm between Tockholes Road and the Robin Hood Cottage and is the only access path to Haggs Wood where ramblers will walk through.

Ramblers must walk up a ditch which has broken the footpath to reach the main part of their walk.

Mr Hatton said: "It is a steep ditch that has been cut into the footpath which leads up to the woods with two public footpath signpost markers on the top and bottom of the slope."